"Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson. Think we have it hard in Boston? I would recommend we not read something by local writers about or set here. One thing we sorely lack as a community is perspective. I just read this book for a class on the dynamics of social and community change. It was incredibly inspiring. Mortenson shows what people can do when they are committed to and stay focused on their goals and understand that they need to work with others to achieve them. http://books.google.com/books?id=HbezCyqr3q0C&dq=three+cups+of+tea&source=gbs_navlinks_sPosted by Jeanne1701

"Nomad: A Personal Journey through the Clash of Civilizations" By Ayaan Hirshi Ali (2010)

"The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason" By Sam Harris (2004)

"The Demon Haunted World: Science as a candle in the dark" By Carl Sagan (1995)

"The Blank Slate" By Steven Pinker (2002 Pulitzer Prize)

"A Short History of Nearly Everything" By Bill Bryson (2005)

Fiction

"The Holy Bible" By "God" Specifically the Old testament. Give Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and 2 Samuel a try. It seems people have forgotten what God thinks about religious tolerance, virginity, rape, ethnic cleansing, slavery, human sacrifice, genocide, etc. Let's bring these passages out in the light of day and have an honest conversation about whether or not this is the best book we have on morality, or even a good book at all.

Slavery existed longer legally in Massachusetts than in Georgia. You didn't know that? Huh. "Ten Hills Farm: The Forgotten History of Slavery in the North" by Catherine Manegold will fill you in on the whispery story that lies not far beneath the surface in the Commonwealth.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. It gives you a good perspective about life. From the website of the same name,

"On September 18, 2007, computer science professor Randy Pausch stepped in front of an audience of 400 people at Carnegie Mellon University to deliver a last lecture called “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” With slides of his CT scans beaming out to the audience, Randy told his audience about the cancer that is devouring his pancreas and that will claim his life in a matter of months. On the stage that day, Randy was youthful, energetic, handsome, often cheerfully, darkly funny. He seemed invincible. But this was a brief moment, as he himself acknowledged.

Randy’s lecture has become a phenomenon, as has the book he wrote based on the same principles, celebrating the dreams we all strive to make realities. Sadly, Randy lost his battle to pancreatic cancer on July 25th, 2008, but his legacy will continue to inspire us all, for generations to come."

The Bible - cover to cover. Massachusetts needs it bad. Send a copy to our President.Posted by ModerateDem

I would like to see everyone read The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. There's so many people with an imaginary friend in the sky that it might help people to understand that religion is the realm of myth.

Slavery existed longer legally in Massachusetts than in Georgia. You didn't know that? Huh. "Ten Hills Farm: The Forgotten History of Slavery in the North" by Catherine Manegold will fill you in on the whispery story that lies not far beneath the surface in the Commonwealth.Posted by LiberatingStory

While I agree that it is worthwhile for us Northerners to learn more about and acknowledge our state's slave history, the first "wow" statement is not really a fair comparison. Georgia didn't become a colony until the 1730s. Massachusetts may have been the first to legalize slavery, but it was also the first to abolish it.

Mao's Little Red Book... what else? Some control freaks are trying to impose a reading requirement ... on a city's population... and giving the mirage that folks are picking the book...What a crocka ... This is not a book club thing... This is an effort at group read... like in group think... What do you want to bet it will be authored by Obama or Patrick or Kennedy?

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. It gives you a good perspective about life. From the website of the same name, "On September 18, 2007, computer science professor Randy Pausch stepped in front of an audience of 400 people at Carnegie Mellon University to deliver a last lecture called “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” With slides of his CT scans beaming out to the audience, Randy told his audience about the cancer that is devouring his pancreas and that will claim his life in a matter of months. On the stage that day, Randy was youthful, energetic, handsome, often cheerfully, darkly funny. He seemed invincible. But this was a brief moment, as he himself acknowledged. Randy’s lecture has become a phenomenon, as has the book he wrote based on the same principles, celebrating the dreams we all strive to make realities. Sadly, Randy lost his battle to pancreatic cancer on July 25th, 2008, but his legacy will continue to inspire us all, for generations to come."Posted by acohen843

In Response to Re: Send us your suggestions : I would like to see everyone read The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. There's so many people with an imaginary friend in the sky that it might help people to understand that religion is the realm of myth.Posted by wonderboy100

If the project is for the entire city to read the same book, it should appeal to all age groups - from, say, middle-schoolers on up. Boston-born Edgar Allen Poe wrote a collection of gripping short stories and accessible poems that can be enjoyed by all. Their influence on world literature as well as on pop culture make familiarity with his works important culturally.

My second choice would be "Three Cups of Tea" because there is a young adult version of this thoughtful work and because of its value in our current political situation. The City of Beverly chose this book for their city-wide reading program, so there may also be ideas available that could be useful to Boston.

"Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson. Think we have it hard in Boston? I would recommend we not read something by local writers about or set here. One thing we sorely lack as a community is perspective. I just read this book for a class on the dynamics of social and community change. It was incredibly inspiring. Mortenson shows what people can do when they are committed to and stay focused on their goals and understand that they need to work with others to achieve them. http://books.google.com/books?id=HbezCyqr3q0C&dq=three+cups+of+tea&source=gbs_navlinks_sPosted by Jeanne1701

I totally agree about Three Cups of Tea. I think everyone should read it and when they are done, read it again.